Australian Prehistoric Fish Discovered

The remains of a prehistoric fish were discovered in Queensland, Australia, reports say.

Patrick Smith, curator, explained that the Johnston and Amos families found the skeletons in Richmond.

Daily Mail reported that at first the Johnston were unaware of what they discovered. The family explained that they discovered the bone protruding in the rocks.

The Johnston family explained that at first they thought that they discovered a tooth of gigantic reptile because of its size and shape. They said that it wasn't until they asked an enthusiast that they realized that it was a nose of a fish.

One week later, the Amos family find the rest of the fish's skeleton which includes the skull and front fins. Smith explained that so far they know that it was a high-tier carnivore and ate large and fast moving fish.

He also explained that it acts like the modern marlin and he believes that it probably lived with

Yahoo News reported that they think the species belong to Australopachycormus Hurleyi, which is a 10-foot long predator that looks like a swordfish and has a pointed snout that they used to slash or stun their prey.

Australopachycormus Hurleyi lived during the Cretaceous Period during the time when there's a Pachicormiformi, a group of bony fishes, was declining. It is closely related to Protosphyraena, a sword-fish like fish that lived that also lived during the Cretaceous Period.

The prehistoric fish did not have any marginal teeth but it has a single pair of large pointy teeth with its rear teeth is facing sideways. Its mandible has front sharp teeth even though it's back teeth are smaller.

Smith explained that it's swordfish-like snout gave way to its ecological niche. He said that fossils from this species are rare.

The species were first discovered in 2007, less than a decade ago. The fossil can be found in Kronosaurus Korner museum in Australia.

He said that this is the first time they have an almost complete remain of the species in a museum.